“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:27)
After going on a verse-by-verse journey through the Book of Philippians, I have decided to take up and reread one of my favorite classics on the life of Christ, The Desire of Ages. This was the book that first opened my heart to Jesus when I was a child. I don’t know how many times I’ve read it through already, but every occasion has been very inspiring. This will certainly not be an exception.
Taking it up again some weeks ago, one passage in particular has given me food for thought:
“Jesus did not shirk care and responsibility, as do many who profess to be His followers. It is because they seek to evade this discipline that so many are weak and inefficient. They may possess precious and amiable traits, but they are nerveless and almost useless when difficulties are to be met or obstacles surmounted. The positiveness and energy, the solidity and strength of character, manifested in Christ are to be developed in us, through the same discipline that He endured. And the grace that He received is for us.” (The Desire of Ages, chapter 7, p. 73.1)
Care and responsibility.
My siblings and I were trained early on to do things around the house. Keeping things clean, caring for pets and plants, growing food in the garden, doing our school work. That’s one type of care and responsibility.
Then care and responsibilities increased. Helping with the family business. Going out and work. Contribute to the financial burdens. Start new projects.
Then I became a teacher. I had the care and responsibility of my students’ academic success and their physical, emotional and spiritual welfare. I was also accountable to my superiors and employer. Then there is the care for my colleagues at work, to make my presence contribute to their happiness and comfort.
And so, I grew accustomed to care and responsibility.
But the moment I read the passage from The Desire of Ages, a bell began to ring. “Jesus did not shirk care and responsibility, as do many who profess to be His followers… The positiveness and energy, the solidity and strength of character, manifested in Christ are to be developed in us.”
That word, develop, rang a bell. You know those times in life when God seems to pull you to one side, leading you to reflect on your own growth and what He wants you to do next. This is because Jesus wants us to grow in our cares and responsibility.
Some responsibilities we carry for years, but then there is the danger of stagnation. In the majority of cases, the reason we don’t keep on growing is a fear to take on things that seem too hard. We stick to carrying what is familiar and comfortable. But by avoiding the discipline of new cares and responsibilities, we miss out on the character development that Christ wants to work in us.
Jesus did not shirk from care and responsibility. And when new cares and responsibilities were given to Him at the age of 30, He was ready to take them up.
As I was doing some research for one of my projects, I came across an interesting article on this topic entitled “Too Lightly Loaded”:
Too Lightly Loaded (by C. E. Weaks) For more than four days we have been battling with wind and wave, trying to make a sea journey along a portion of the China coast,— a journey that ordinarily takes but little more than two days. What is it that makes progress so slow? Our captain's explanation of it is, “We are too lightly loaded.” Wind and wave play with us at will. First the propeller is buried in the water, next it is whirling around in space. Though hundreds of tons of water have been poured into the ballast tanks, our “red line” is far above the water line, and we continue to rock hither and yon, and all because we are “too lightly loaded.” How often does this same reason lie at the foundation of our failure to make the progress that we should in the Christian life. With many the Christian life seems a long, grand holiday,— a life free from burdens and cares. They read, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light,” and interpret it to mean that heavy burdens are not to be a part of the Christian's life. But we are told in the spirit of prophecy that the Christian life is more than many take it to be. It does not consist in mere gentleness, patience, meekness, and kindliness. These graces are essential, but there is need of courage, decision, energy, and perseverance also. We need those positive traits of character that give man power to do something. If we do not carry this burden upon our hearts, we are going through life “too lightly loaded.” We are placing ourselves at the mercy of the flood of evil that is sweeping in upon the world, and which is carrying down to ruin many of God's professed commandment-keeping people. May God help us to arouse ourselves, to see our responsibility, and to cast our lives “into the furrow of the world's need.” The Review and Herald, June 23, 1921
That’s something to reflect on. Are we going through life too lightly loaded?
It may be appropriate to mention one thing at this point. We should beware of creating yokes of our own which God never designed for us to carry. But we should always look up to Him for the burdens we are to carry, the calling he has for us personally.
“Your work is not to gather up burdens of your own.... We often think we are having a hard time in bearing burdens, and it is too often the case, because God has not made any provision for us to carry these burdens; but when we bear His yoke and carry His burdens, we can testify that the yoke of Christ is easy and His burdens are light, because He has made provision for these.
“Yet that yoke will not give us a life of ease and freedom and selfish indulgence. The life of Christ was one of self-sacrifice and self-denial at every step; and with consistent, Christlike tenderness and love, His true follower will walk in the footsteps of the Master; and as he advances in this life, he will become more and more inspired with the spirit and life of Christ.”
(Our High Calling, April 4, “Wearing Christ’s Yoke,” p. 100)
What yoke is God calling you to carry?
“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:27)